Another fantastic harvest at Mason’s Point Vineyard!

USL are pleased to announce that Mason’s Point Vineyard at Rettendon Grange Farm in the Crouch Valley in Essex has completed another bountiful Pinot Noir Harvest!

With much anticipation, our fabulous grape-picking team from both Grange Farm and Universal Stone were hard at work bringing in our unique grapes. Mason’s Point is flourishing in this wine-growing region of South East Essex. Our distinctive micro-climate allows us to cultivate some of England's finest grapes.

Great grapes and great wine are all about collaboration, whether that’s in the partnership between the grower and the winemaker, the pairing of the right food with the right vintage or simply the joy of sharing a bottle with friends.

Mason’s Point is pleased to be collaborating with Sugrue South Downs in West Sussex. Our Pinot Noir harvest is used by award-winning boutique English winemakers Dermot & Ana Sugrue.

Learn more about our ‘Crouch Valley Pinot Noir 2022’

Sugrue South Downs first foray into red winemaking, ‘Crouch Valley Pinot Noir’ is made with fruit from Mason's Point Vineyard – arguably the best region in which to make still wines in England.

Wine Reviews: 

“This will be sensational: it’s the best English Pinot I’ve tried.” - Jamie Goode

"Incredible ripeness, freshness and balance. Danbury Ridge watch out.”  - Henry Jeffreys

"A damned good drink! Pure, ripe fruit with a real core and drive." - Jancis Robinson MW

To quote Bob Dylan, it's been a slow train comin' but we have finally arrived... in Essex. More specifically, Mason's Point Vineyard in the Crouch Valley – one of the country’s warmest and driest terroirs, and arguably the best region in which to make still wines in England.

Planted on London blue clay (also known as “smectite,” which can be found in Pomerol on the Right Bank of Bordeaux), Mason's Point was recommended to us by the talented viticulturist Duncan McNeill, a Yorkshireman who learnt his trade in New Zealand before pioneering high quality grape-growing in the Crouch Valley.

The exceptional 2022 vintage saw record-breaking temperatures, which resulted in quite literally the ripest Pinot Noir we’ve seen in two decades of winemaking in England. Fermented at Sugrue South Downs winery, it spent 14 months in new oak barrels, 10 months in tank, and a further 12 months on cork before release. Just 500 bottles were released to subscribers on 24th October 2025.

Together with our winemakers - we're extremely proud to say – is probably quite unlike any other English red wine you will have tasted: a deeply saturated, purple-black colour, this is a Pinot Noir of structure and power and, at the same time, elegance and nuance.

 Sugrue South Downs website: https://www.sugruesouthdowns.com

Mason’s Point has truly become a vibrant established vineyard, producing the highest-quality grapes for the thriving English winemaking market.  We extend a sincere thank you to our brilliant hard-working team, for their ‘hands-on deck’ contribution and time.

Learn more about Mason’s Point: 

A meaningful reference and logo design inspired by stonemasons and a love of wine.

Although focussed on growing rather than producing wine, the vineyard is deeply intertwined with the owners’ stone masonry business. This unique connection inspired a logo design that blends the vineyard’s essence with stone-carving elements, including a point chisel integrated into the ‘I’ in ‘Point.’ Logo design by @amandamagilldesign.